FRANKFORT, Ky. (9/20/13) – Tom Underwood, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, released the following statement today in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new emission standards for coal and natural-gas plants:

"This is the last thing Kentucky needs. Coal companies are laying off workers left and right, and this is only going to make things worse. On top of that, these new rules are only going to drive up the cost of energy, and that's going to hurt Kentucky's job creators, its small businesses. Our members say energy costs is one of their toughest challenges, and this absolutely is not going to help. We're disappointed, but we're not surprised, by the administration's lack of leadership when it comes to energy costs. NFIB is committed to policies that expand the U.S. energy market and allow small businesses to lead our economic recovery.”

NFIB/Kentucky is the commonwealth's leading small-business association, with over 4,000 members statewide. Learn more at www.NFIB.com/KY.